Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance, historical mystery, fantasy, romantasy and paranormal mystery

Ever Yours, Annabelle by Elisa Braden

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Ever Yours, AnnabelleEver Yours, Annabelle by Elisa Braden

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Rescued from Ruin: Prequel

Release Date: April 30, 2019

I would give this book 10 stars if I could – it was that good!

Lady Annabelle Huxley has loved Robert Conrad her entire life and is sure they are destined to marry and live happily ever after. Robert has always been her protector and her champion – saving her and defending her, always patient with her and calling her Bumblebee – she cannot imagine a life that doesn’t include him. So when she panics at the thought of him dying in the war, her actions set into motion a tragedy of epic proportions. An accident that costs Robert his dreams and costs Annabelle her heart.

When Robert wakes after the accident and realizes his life has changed, he banishes Annabelle from his life. He remains friends with Annabelle’s brother John, but refuses to let him speak her name. For the next seven years, Robert struggles to heal. He is a second son and lives with his grandfather, the Marquis of Mortlock. When his hopes of a military career are dashed, he takes over the estate management at his grandfathers urging, throwing himself into it almost to the exclusion of all else. But everything changes when his grandfather insists that Robert needs to find a wife. He sends him to London and tells him to heed the advice of his friend, The Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham, she will find him a wife. He goes and doesn’t meet any woman who interests him, until he hears a voice that sparks something in him, he searches for the source and is desperate to see her face – but when he does, he is shocked to see Annabelle – his Bumblebee – but not the girl he knew 7 years ago, no, this Annabelle is a woman.

Annabelle has tried to live without Robert, she writes him letters that she never sends, has enlisted spies to keep her informed of his progress and tried to find another man that she could love. To distract herself, she draws and has turned it into a bit of a career – using gossip and turning them into amusing caricatures, which she sells to a publisher under a false name. Her life is not empty, but she not longer feels alive. When she sees Robert at the ball, it was like her heart started beating again. But she is still hurt and tells herself to keep her distance. However, Lady Wallingham has other ideas – she proposes that Annabelle help Robert find a wife!

What follows is a touching love story that will make you laugh, cry and sigh in equal measure. Wonderful characters, secrets, murder, steamy love scenes, amusing banter, tragedy and soul-mate love combine together in an amazing and unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the last word is read.
This is the prequel to the series, but doesn’t have to be read first – in fact if you have been following the series, you will see many familiar faces!! I loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*

Lord Bredon and the Bachelor’s Bible by Mia Marlowe

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Lord Bredon and the Bachelor’s Bible (The House of Lovell #2)Lord Bredon and the Bachelor’s Bible by Mia Marlowe

Tracy’s rating: 3/3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The House of Lovell, #2

Release Date: April 30, 2019

Years ago when she was Miss Anne Spillwell and he was Edward Lovell, Viscount Bredon – they were in love and planned to spend the rest of their lives together. But his father didn’t approve and told Edward to take his Grand Tour and when he returned, if they were still in love, he would let them marry. Edward left and was heartbroken when he learned Anne married Sir Erasmus Howard not long after he left.

Years later, Edward is now the Earl of Chatham and needs a rich wife to repair the finances of his estate. Thanks to the pamphlet circulating around town called the “Bachelor’s Bible”, Edward knows the richest heiress on the marriage mart is Miss Martha Finch, daughter of Baron Finch. He doesn’t want to marry for money, but really sees no other option, his one chance at love was lost years ago, so now he must consider everyone depending on him rather than his own feelings. But fate isn’t done with Edward and Anne…

Lady Anne Howard is now a widow and since her dower portion is being shared with her late husband’s mother, she has done what she can to cut expenses – including agreeing to sponsor Miss Martha Finch. At one of their first outings, she runs right into the man she loved and lost and can’t help but feel hurt that he is considering marriage to Martha. But when Edward sees Anne again, his world shifts and he desperately tries to find a way to save his estate and have Anne in his life again.

However, Anne won’t consider being his mistress and has secrets that she has never shared with anyone, nor does she want to. She tries to keep Edward at arm’s length, but acknowledges that he is exactly the type of suitor Martha’s parents want for her. The more Edward sees of Anne, the more he wants her and only her. Meanwhile, Anne is busy fending off the ineligible would be suitor, Reginald Dickey, the acknowledged, but illegitimate, untitled son of a duke, who is as captivated by Martha as she is of him. It looks like no one is going to get their heart’s desire and more than one person is going to end up heartbroken. But where there is a will there is a way and when secrets are exposed, Edward will do anything to keep the woman he loves safe.

This was a good story, but it did seem to drag a bit for the better part of the book and the last 20% or so was so chocked full of events that I could barely keep up with what was going on. Personally, I would have liked a steadier pace throughout the book with some of the ending elements dispersed sooner rather than EVERYTHING happening at once. I also felt like the writing style was completely different from any Mia Marlowe book I have ever read (and I have read them all), it was just odd, nothing was familiar, not the dialogue style, turn of phrase or pacing. I did like all the characters, the mystery was pretty good, Anne’s secrets were heart-wrenching, Edward’s love was epic and Martha, Dickey and Caroline added much needed comic relief. This is the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*